Apparatus for cleaning a surface

Abstract

An apparatus for cleaning a surface includes a liquid delivery system for storing cleaning liquid and delivering the cleaning liquid to the surface to be cleaned, a fluid recovery system and a control system. The control system includes a controller that is coupled to a sensing assembly. Methods of operating the same include sensing foam or liquid with the sensing assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A surface cleaning device, comprising:
 a base adapted for contacting a surface of a surrounding environment to be cleaned; 
 a suction source; 
 a suction nozzle assembly provided on the base and defining a suction nozzle in fluid communication with the suction source; 
 a fluid delivery and recovery system, comprising:
 a fluid supply tank adapted to hold a supply of fluid; 
 a fluid dispenser in fluid communication with the fluid supply tank; and 
 a recovery container in fluid communication with the suction nozzle assembly; 
 
 a body assembly configured to receive the recovery container; and 
 a sensor assembly provided with the body assembly and located adjacent to the recovery container, wherein the sensor assembly includes a self-capacitive sensing system having a plurality of probes and the plurality of probes are conductive pads mounted adjacent the recovery container; and 
 wherein the plurality of probes are located along a height of the recovery container such that the sensor assembly is configured to sense or detect multiple liquid levels within the recovery container. 
 
     
     
       2. The surface cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the recovery container includes a wall thickness below 3 millimeters. 
     
     
       3. The surface cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the body assembly includes a wall abutting the sensor assembly. 
     
     
       4. The surface cleaning device of  claim 3 , wherein the wall includes brackets for holding the sensor assembly. 
     
     
       5. The surface cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the surface cleaning device is one of an upright vacuum cleaner, a multi-surface floor cleaner, a robotic vacuum, a canister vacuum, a portable deep cleaner, an upright deep cleaner, or a commercial extractor. 
     
     
       6. The surface cleaning device of  claim 5 , wherein
 a controller is operationally connected to at least one of the suction source, a pump, an agitator, or a user interface, and 
 the controller is configured to deenergize the at least one of the suction source, the pump, the agitator, or the user interface based on input from the sensor assembly. 
 
     
     
       7. The surface cleaning device of  claim 1 , comprising a controller in communication with the sensor assembly, wherein the sensor assembly provides input to the controller. 
     
     
       8. The surface cleaning device of  claim 7 , wherein the controller determines a liquid level based on the input from the sensor assembly. 
     
     
       9. The surface cleaning device of  claim 8 , comprising an accelerometer communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the accelerometer provides an input to the controller. 
     
     
       10. The surface cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the recovery container is removably mounted to the body assembly. 
     
     
       11. The surface cleaning device of  claim 10 , comprising a controller configured to detect a presence or an absence of the recovery container via input from the sensing assembly. 
     
     
       12. The surface cleaning device of  claim 11 , comprising a user interface in communication with the controller, wherein the controller is configured to indicate via the user interface the presence or the absence of the recovery container. 
     
     
       13. A surface cleaning device, comprising:
 a base adapted for contacting a surface of a surrounding environment to be cleaned; 
 a suction source; 
 a suction nozzle assembly provided on the base and defining a suction nozzle in fluid communication with the suction source; 
 a fluid delivery and recovery system, comprising:
 a fluid supply tank adapted to hold a supply of fluid; 
 a fluid dispenser in fluid communication with the fluid supply tank; and 
 a recovery container in fluid communication with the suction nozzle assembly; 
 
 a body assembly configured to receive the recovery container; 
 a sensor assembly provided with the body assembly and located adjacent to the recovery container; 
 a controller in communication with the sensor assembly, wherein the sensor assembly provides input to the controller; and 
 an accelerometer communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the accelerometer provides an input to the controller; 
 wherein the controller determines a liquid level based on the input from the sensor assembly; and 
 wherein tilt of the recovery container is determined by the controller in communication with the accelerometer. 
 
     
     
       14. The surface cleaning device of  claim 13 , wherein the recovery container includes a wall thickness below 3 millimeters. 
     
     
       15. A surface cleaning device, comprising:
 a base adapted for contacting a surface of a surrounding environment to be cleaned; 
 a suction source; 
 a suction nozzle assembly provided on the base and defining a suction nozzle in fluid communication with the suction source; 
 a fluid delivery and recovery system, comprising:
 a fluid supply tank adapted to hold a supply of fluid; 
 a fluid dispenser in fluid communication with the fluid supply tank; and 
 a recovery container in fluid communication with the suction nozzle assembly; 
 
 a body assembly configured to receive the recovery container; 
 a sensor assembly provided with the body assembly and located adjacent to the recovery container; 
 a controller in communication with the sensor assembly, wherein the sensor assembly provides input to the controller; and 
 an accelerometer communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the accelerometer provides an input to the controller; 
 wherein the controller determines a liquid level based on the input from the sensor assembly; and 
 wherein the controller determines a liquid level based on the input from the accelerometer and the input from the sensor assembly. 
 
     
     
       16. The surface cleaning device of  claim 15 , wherein the sensor assembly includes a self-capacitive sensing system having a plurality of probes. 
     
     
       17. The surface cleaning device of  claim 15 , wherein the recovery container includes a wall thickness below 3 millimeters. 
     
     
       18. The surface cleaning device of  claim 15 , wherein the accelerometer is located on a printed circuit board of the controller. 
     
     
       19. The surface cleaning device of  claim 18 , wherein the controller is further configured to provide a visual or audible status indication via a user interface based on the determined liquid level. 
     
     
       20. A surface cleaning device, comprising:
 a base adapted for contacting a surface of a surrounding environment to be cleaned; 
 a suction source; 
 a suction nozzle assembly provided on the base and defining a suction nozzle in fluid communication with the suction source; 
 a fluid delivery and recovery system, comprising:
 a fluid supply tank adapted to hold a supply of fluid; 
 a fluid dispenser in fluid communication with the fluid supply tank; and 
 a recovery container in fluid communication with the suction nozzle assembly; 
 
 a body assembly configured to receive the recovery container; and 
 a sensor assembly provided with the body assembly and located adjacent to the recovery container; 
 wherein the recovery container includes a wall thickness below 3 millimeters.